The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is working to notify UCSD students who may have been exposed to tuberculosis on campus during about a four-month period this year.
The University said the potential exposure period was from January 25 to May 15 on the university’s main campus in La Jolla. It's the first case of TB for the school in almost five years, school officials say.
“Testing is recommended for all those exposed to assure they are not infected, since they may not have symptoms,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “For anyone infected, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent disease.”
Tuberculosis can be passed through indoor air or prolonged contact with an infected individual and can be cured with antibiotics.
However, it's unlikely for TB to be transmitted in passing; students would have had to be exposed for four to eight continuous hours.
Symptoms of active tuberculosis include coughing, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
Free testing will be provided to students who are known to have been exposed at the campus’ Student Health Center starting May 30.
For more information, call:
- UC San Diego Student Health Services (858) 534-3300
- UC San Diego Occupational Health (858) 822-5340
- County TB Control Program (619) 692-8621
